40 Crosses for 40 Days: 17th Cross -The Life of Christ Cross

Today's cross, the Life of Christ cross, is all about one thing - integration. Integration is ultimately the final goal of the Lent journey, because we seek to become whole and holy, just as Jesus was. Being integrated means that all parts of ourselves are in their proper place and are used according to their purpose, physically, mentally, spiritually, internally, communally - all the "llys."

We know Jesus was fully integrated. Although He was both human and divine, there was never any fragmentation in Him. There was never a time when He did or said something that was contrary to who He was and is. All His actions, all His movements, all His teachings were all united to illuminate who He was, the second person of the Holy Trinity who became human so that we could become divine.

We, of course, are not fully integrated. St. Paul puts it well when he says, "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing." (Romans 7:19-20) We are a work in progress, a people 'on the way' to becoming united with God. Lent gives us the chance to become more united, to overcome our fragmentation and grow towards who God wants us to be individually, within ourselves, as well as communally, with others as the church in the world.

We are a work in progress, a people 'on the way.'

So how do we work on becoming integrated? How do we work on letting Jesus' life flow through and out of us? We work on integration through prayerful meditation of Christ's life. Let's practice, using the cross above as a guide:

First Tile - Jesus' birth.
Do we value innocence and humility? Or do we prefer to look sophisticated and smart?
Are we willing to make room for others, especially when it is inconvenient or when we are busy?

Second Tile - Jesus Teaching in the Temple as a Child
Do we recognize the voice of God even when it comes in an unusual way?
Are we willing to listen to others and try to understand them?
Do we, like Mary and Joseph, diligently look for Jesus as the most important thing in our lives?

Third Tile - Jesus Heals
Do we believe in and act with Jesus' healing presence in our own lives?
Do we pray to see how we are called to heal the difficult situations in our own lives?

Fourth Tile - Jesus Teaches
Do we accept Jesus' teachings because we believe in Him and His love for us?
Do we try to invite and explain His teachings to others?
Do we try to learn more about Jesus' teachings, so that we understand them and can integrate them into our own lives?

Fifth Tile - Jesus' Crucifixion
Do we take seriously Jesus' command to carry our own cross?
Do we really try to die to our old life and to all that fragments us, that keeps us away from God?
Are we willing to suffer and be made uncomfortable if that is what is necessary?

Sixth Tile - Jesus' Ascension
Do we believe in Jesus' ascension, and if so, do we live in and show the joy that this means?
Do we feel a sense of urgency in sharing the Good News?
Do we take to heart the words the angels spoke to the apostles at the ascension when they said, "Why are you standing there looking at the sky?" Do we realize there is work to be done, right now, here, today?

As we continue our journey through Lent, let's pray for the grace to overcome the fragmentation caused by Original Sin and follow more closely the path of integration, so that we can do a little more of the good we want to do and grow in wholeness and holiness.

Let us pray: Holy Trinity, help us recognize the fragmentation in ourselves that we have lived with for so long, we don't really see. Help us to heal from it, to overcome it, so that we may be more like Jesus Christ and move towards complete integration and peace. And in all things, let us praise you. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen